January 17, In Jackson

I am currently figuring out things here in Jackson. I'm currently staying with Sam and his roommates Tom & Barb--super nice, hospitable people! I have a part-time gig in Victor, ID at the Teton Community School. I am working some at the preschool and also at the after-school program there. I may also intern in the elementary classes, but we'll see how my schedule works out. Driving the pass isn't optimal, but I'm not sure if I really want to get housing in Victor. It is cheap out there, but I kind of want to stay in Jackson/am hoping to get employment here.

I went snowboarding on Tuesday and it was A-MAZ-ING. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Excited to go again soon!

Other updates:

• I slammed my finger in the car door on Monday. It is sort of concerning now since it's still very swollen/numb/discolored. I feel like the tip of my finger may actually be broken, but I don't think there's much to do for that. 
• My car had to be fixed AGAIN--spark plugs were causing the engine to buck and the "check engine" light to flash. Problem resolved at Sue's Roos down in Idaho. What-what.
• Xbox is officially set up. New games bought. Netflix capabilities established. 
• I love the grocery stores here. Epic Jade-friendly-food-options.
• It is BEAUTIFUL out here! Really digging it so far. I am very happy I came out here.

January 12, Car Problems

Sigh.

Wouldn't you know I have a fuel leak. I'm currently getting it fixed and hoping they'll be done by 11:00 so I can head out after my check-out time is up. For now I'm camping out at the Best Western and biding my time.

Yesterday I stayed in Denver. I had a virtual interview with Citizen Schools. I also threw together a letter of intent for TFA just for kicks. It was storming outside and the roads were bad, so I didn't really venture too far. I did discover a delicious butternut squash soufflé I could actually eat. City grocery stores are the best. Whole Foods is by far my favorite, but I didn't make it there yesterday. I'm hoping they have a good organic section in Jackson. We do back in Blue Hill, and that's population 3000 or something, so....why not Wyoming? Gluten free, dairy free, sugar-free lovin!

Oh, and peanut-free. Don't like hives. Nasty business.

My belly has been extra angry lately, though I didn't get sick yesterday which is a good sign (I hope.) In other news, I'm addicted to Downton Abbey, though I'm having a hard time getting Season 2 on my computer. I watched the first season through Netflix, but they don't have season 2 for whatever sad reason. I am not a tv person, but it is a fun show...hoping to find another viewing method that doesn't cost $$.

I am also thinking a lot about grad schools, fellowships, and where this job in Idaho may lead. I hope something pans out! Many big ideas swirling in my brain! I think I have my living situation figured out (nanny gig in trade for free housing in a little cottage on an Elk Refuge)...now to try to get a job at the resort....

January 9, Road Trip

So! Updates about my life:

1. I am moving to Jackson, Wyoming! Exciting!

Okay...some of you may ask: Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. First, I have always wanted to be a ski-bumb. PLUS I really want to experience the West. Second, I actually got a pretty sweet part-time teaching job out in Victor, ID, which is right next-door. I will be working as an after school counselor, pre-school teacher, and intern. This may turn into a full-time teaching gig next year, too! Third, I want to see where things go with Sam. Fourth, I want to get out of my parents house and go see a new place in the world! I'm 23 and it's time to be out of the nest!

2. I bought myself a Subaru Outback. It has some problems (it's a 2001), but it's a good little car. I'm excited.

3. I interviewed for a teaching fellowship in NYC, and also had a phone interview for a co-teacher program in Philadelphia. We'll see how both go! I have my final interview with Citizen Schools (AmeriCorps program) on the 11th.

4. I am currently road tripping across country! After spending time with some old college friends in NY, I got to see my cousins in CT. I also briefly saw Brittany (in Ohio) and Ethan (in Missouri), both former members of PC-Tanzania who left early like me.

Anyway, I am experiencing the mid-west for the first time outside of my visit from Chicago!

My route:

Limerick, ME --> Enfield, CT --> Columbus, OH --> St. Louis, MO --> Denver, CO --> Jackson, WY

Miles: 193 miles + 696 miles + 414 miles + 850 miles + 529 miles = 2, 682 Miles

December 29, All Mixed Up

So, I am currently contemplating my next big move. This is difficult because I do need to take my health into consideration, but at this point, I don't like the idea of my stomach running my life, and I can't afford too many doctor bills. I wish the process to get health coverage through FECA was simpler/more guaranteed. For now, I have a limited supply of funding (incidentally the silver-lining of being run over in 2011...basically I'm living off of my insurance settlement money) and a lot of big ideas.

In-person interviews are expensive, as are cars, which makes getting a fellowship a costly venture. I'm hoping to get a fellowship that would start in June or July, but I won't necessarily have an answer to whether or not that's going to happen for quite some time. So--do I wait around in Blue Hill? Do I go to a city? I'd really like to go out West and hit up Wyoming, but that decision may or may not be a good one. It's hard to know. I feel so excited about the idea, but also a bit worried about the practicality of it.

Anyway, I'm feeling very conflicted on a number of levels about where to go and what to do. Fun vs. Practicality. Normally I'm very logical, rational, and practical. BUT--I kind of want to go do something risky, fun, and out of my norm.

Regardless, my head is swimming.

December 25, Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas, so I'm happy to be home and spending it with family!

Lately the readjustment process has been... interesting. I am able to eat and drink much more now, though I still have a ways to go. Step-by-step! I'm also feeling a bit burnt out by the applications I've been working on. I think I'm going to switch strategies and take more breaks, focus on one organization and application at a time, and submit things at some of the later deadlines rather than trying to rush and finish all these applications by January. Coming back from Peace Corps, looking for work, trying to figure out what I really WANT to do, worrying about what organizations I'll be accepted by, and sorting out my health/life has been a bit overwhelming mentally. So, I'm going to try and relax a bit more. I may go out West (in the process of looking for a car) and do something fun and emotionally rewarding. I'm 23, and I'd like to explore the US a little while I'm living no-strings-attached.

December 18, On the Bus Home

So, we have finally arrived in Portland. I just watched part of the Tin-Tin movie, and did some face booking. I have a hard time reading/writing on buses, which is why I'm jotting this quick blog post down while we're at the Portland bus terminal. (Car sickness rears its ugly head if I try to be productive while going down the road.)

The bus is packed, which surprises me. It's a pretty gloomy Tuesday, but I guess that it's good that it's not snowing since it'd make traveling much slower. For now, lot's of rain. It's been like that for several days in Chicago as well.

Anyway, my interview in Chicago didn't go as well as I'd hoped. It was probably the most standardized interview/impersonal interview I've ever had. Lot's of applicants for very few spots, and they try to make it a uniform experience, so everything is scripted, timed, and very to-the-point. I'll find out by the 4th of January if I got a fellowship position, but I'm not holding my breath. I did really enjoy seeing the city, though! Chicago is awesome. I really enjoyed the Evolution, Maharaja, and Jade exhibits at the Field Museum. The Art Institute was way too big for my brain--I got overwhelmed pretty quickly by the number of exhibits. I did quite enjoy the photo exhibit, however. I love pictures. I love taking them. I love looking at them. I love learning about them. I'd like to take a course in photography sometime soon.

While in Chicago it was great to see my friend Edo. She was also in town for an interview, so we spent a couple hours together at the Skydeck (formerly Sears Tower--now Willis Tower). Great view of the city! I also saw Edo and Naomi again once I came back to Boston. We watched Pitch Perfect (A CAPPELLA DORKS!) and caught up, which was nice. :) We all used to sing together back in the day.

I'm seeing the Hobbit tonight. Then more application supplements tomorrow! I have a packet to complete for my Citizen Schools application--I'd be pumped if they gave me an offer to work in Boston, but we'll see. Financially it's the least rewarding, but the program looks AWESOME. I am not very money-driven, mostly just passionate about things that sound emotionally fulfilling. I'm not sure if that's ideal, but I'll probably find out the hard way someday if not.

Health has bobbed around this week. I'm doing better than before, but still not out of the woods. Patience is a virtue! Christmas is fast approaching, so my task of the week is to send out my Christmas cards and to bake some goodies for my friends. I LOVE baking--I really want to take holistic nutrition courses and learn to be an allergy-friendly food guru. I'm thinking Santa Brownies and Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream cheese Frosting--decorated to either be snowmen or wreaths--still deciding... If I was rich, I'd bake for people more often!

December 13, Chicago is AWESOME!

Health is better in some ways, worse in others. If you're interested in more details, contact me privately, since I feel weird explaining my health in detail on a public blog.

What I feel less weird about is sharing my adventures! Yesterday I went down to Boston and met up with Sofie and Caitlin. (All the fancy American technology/nice buses/public transportation marvels are still boggling my mind a little bit. I never appreciate Conchord Trailways until I went to TZ!) Sofie & I went to get coffee/tea at this cute little place in the North End, which is where Caitlin lives. We had an interesting encounter with three middle-aged men that was funny but very weird. They came in, sat at the table next to us, and one of them promptly asked me point-blank, "What are you talking about?" They introduced themselves and made some small talk, which was a bit odd but nothing weird enough for me to remember. Anyway, one of them ended up offering me $100 to slap his friend in the face. He told me I needed to slap him as hard as possible--so hard spit would come flying out of his mouth. And he wanted to video tape me doing it so they could circulate the video to all of their office cronies. As the guy predicted, I didn't have it in me to just slap a random man in the face, though $100 was hard to pass up. I just really didn't' need an assault charge being levied on me. Plus, I doubt I could really hit someone that hard in the face for no good reason. My morals just don't jibe that way.

Anyway, today I flew into Chicago. I really like it here--I definitely would gladly relocate to the windy city based on what I've seen so far! It's exciting!

Interesting observations & nice things from my day:

1. I saw the most adorable father in the airport. He was like the poster-child of fathers. (Oxymoron? Poster-father?) Anyway, watching him play this crocodile game with his toddler kind of made my morning. Normally I'm annoyed by the poor parenting I see in  public transportation situations, so I was pleasantly surprised that he wasn't letting his child run screaming and flailing around the terminal. Also, unlike another family there, he didn't let the little guy tote my winter boots around as I was getting my jacket off for the security check. Apparently this kid really "liked them".

2. The buildings in Chicago are tall, pretty, and super shiny. I feel pumped up just from being here! I love city life, it's just so invigorating. And this city seems very handsome, at least in the downtown area.

3. I really like the old-school feel here--there's a nice vibe in Chicago. Old meets new. Classic and cultured meets modernity. I like the feeling I get here, and I'm excited to tourist around tomorrow.

4. I had some delicious spicy sweet potatoes from Whole Foods. I'm definitely making those once I get home!

5. Most people in Chicago that I've walked past have been very fit. I'm not sure if that's true city-wide, but I was impressed by how many people were in shape as I wandered around this afternoon.

6. Okay, back to Whole Foods. There is an amazing selection of new, yummy, allergy-friendly foods that I could normally have, but can't at the present time. Once I'm off my restrictive diet, I'm excited to try these new items! I LOVE YOU ALLERGY FRIENDLY GRANOLA BARS!

7. I got an interview with the DC Fellows program, too! So far I've gotten final interviews for every position I've applied for! (Saturday is my attempt at nailing down an offer!) The position in DC is for ESL, which is perfect. :) I hope I get one position at least!

8. I had 3 cups of peppermint tea today. It was great.

9. I came up with some really inspired thoughts for the children's book I want to write--these ideas are semi-related to my Plan B: Allergy-Friendly Bakery & Nutritional Consultant Studio idea, incidentally...

10. The O'Hare airport features toilets that have automatic re-changing seat covers. You just wave at the toilet, and it spins on some new plastic for your tush. Wonders never cease.